Drinking-fountain.



T. E. LINDSAY.-

DRINKING FOUNTAIN.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1912.

1,038,399. PatentedSept. 10,1912.

a Q? ATTORNEYS WITNESSES the tank,

nnrrnn STATES PATENT onnron,

THOMAS EUGENE LINDSAY, OF JACKSON, TENNESSEE.

DRINKING-FOUNTAIN.

Application filed January To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. LINDSAY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jacksomin the county of Madison and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and Improved Drinking-Fountain, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved drinking fountain formed with improved means for dispensing the drinking fluid, and associated with improved means for providing a cooling element and a flushing device.

A further object of the invention is the arrangement in a drinking fountain of an improved dispensing mechanism formed for permitting, the free discharge of water from the fountain, but arranged to automatically and quickly turn ofi' the flow of water and at the same time drain the discharge mechanism.

In carrying out the objects of the invention, a tank or receptacle of any desired or suitable kind is provided, furnished with an ice receptacle positioned interiorly of but formed with a projecting discharge member in order that the melted ice may drain out of the tank without mixing with the drinking water or other drinking fluid in the tank. Arranged at a convenient point in the tank is an operating mechanism connected with a flush valve which is positioned at the lowermost point 7 tank so that the tank may be readily flushed in order to maintain the same clean and sanitary. Arranged near the bottom and at any convenient point on the circumference of the tank is a discharge mechanism formed with a discharge cup connected with a pipe which is operated by a hand lever when it is desired to draw liquid from the tank. A spring is connected with the pipe designed to hold the same in a predetermined position, from which position itis moved by the handle. The pipe is associated with a valve member which turns on and 03 the water or other liquid.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in

Specification of Letters Patent.

dispensing of the Patented Sept. 1@,1912,

which similar characters of reference ind cate corresponding parts in both the views. I

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sec tion through a fountain embodying the invention, the cover being shown in elevation; and Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, the cover being removed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates a tank of any desired material, mounted upon a suitable base2. A cover 3 is provided for the tank 1, the same being either loosely mounted on the tank or pivoted thereto, as may be desired. The water may be inserted into the tank from the top or through a pipe at any desired point, and is removed through the mechanism near the bottom, or through the flush device.

Arranged within the tank 1 is an ice receptacle 4, formed of metal or other suit-- able material, and supported from above by a flange 5 rigidly secured to the tank 1 and engaging the flange 6 of the receptacle 4. The receptacle 4: is water-tight in order that none of the melted ice will mix with the water contained in the tank 1. In order, however, to dispose of the melted ice, the receptacle l: is tapered at its lower end and provided with a discharge pipe 7 which is threaded for receiving a nut 8. The nut 8 may be a nut of the ordinary construction, or may be threaded exterior-1y for receiving a drain pipe, the principal function of the nut 8 being to properly hold the receptacle 4 in position and prevent the .escapeof water from the tank 1'. Preferably the tank 1 is formed with a tapering or rounded bottom which has a pipe 9 threaded therein at its lowermost point, the bottom being reinforced at 10 for more easily receiving and holding pipe 9. The pipe 9 is internally threaded for receiving an apertured washer or stop 11. Mounted on the washer 11 is a gasket 12 of rubber or other suitable material, which is engaged by a gasket 13 of rubber or other suitable material, connected with the coneshaped valve 14:. The coneshaped valve is provided with an enlargement 1:") for accommodating the gasket 13,

prevents any escape of water.

and for pressing the gasket 13 against the gasket 12. This makes a tight joint and The cone shaped valve 14 is provided with an eye member 16 through which projects the arm 1.7 of a bar 18. The bar 18 is formed with an arm 19 projecting through a suitable aperture in the reciprocating shaft 20. The shaft 20 is guided in its reciprocatory movement by guiding brackets 21 secured to the tank 1. The upper end of the shaft 20 is formed with a hook-shaped portion 22 coacting with a hook-shaped portion 23 formed on the lower end of a bar 24, which is rigidly secured to the cover 3. By this construction and arrangement when the cover .3 is raised partially the valve 14 will be raised and the water in the tank 1 permitted to pass out through the washer 11, thus flushing the tank. If desired some fresh water may be placed in the tank for more thoroughly washing the same. If it is desired to entirely remove the cover- 3, the same may be easily done by disengaging the hooked portions 22 and 23. g

Arranged near the bottom and connected with the sides of the tank 1, is a dispensing mechanism 25. The dispensing mechanism 25 is formed with a rotatable valve member 26 having an aperture 27 formed therein designed to register at certain times with the aperture 28 formed in the housing 30. The housing 30 is threaded to an extension 31 whichprojects from the tank 1. The extension 31 is threaded exteriorly for accommodating the sleeve 32 which is formed with a partition 33 designed to accommodate a shaft 34. The shaft 34 is threaded into the valve member 26 which extends outwardly and is formed integral with or rigidly secured to a dispensing cup 35. The dispensing cup 35 is provided with a discharge aperture 36 so that the water may freely escape therefrom.

A spring 37 is connected at one end with the pipe 34 and at the other end with the sleeve 32 for holding normally the apertures 27 and 28 out of register and incidentally holding the operating handle 38 connected with the pipe 34 in a substantially horizontal position. When it is desired to permit the water to pass from the tank into the cup 35, the handle 38 is depressed to substantially the position shownin Fig. 1, whereupon the water will freely flow from the tank 1 through the pipe 34 into the cup 35. A cap 39 is provided for closing the end of the sleeve 32 and for acting as a bearing for the pipe 34 as well as to positively prevent the escape of any water from the tank 1. By the arrangement of the spring 37 and associated parts it will be observed that as soon as the handle 38 is released the cup 35 will immediately turn over and by reason of the aperture 36 will permit the drainage of all the Water contained therein.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent: I

1. In a drinking fountain, a receptacle,

means for dis ensing a liquid from said receptacle, a flushing means arranged in the lowermost point of the receptacle, said means including a valve member, an up Wardly extending valve rodhaving a hook thereon, and a de' ending hook member secured to the lid 0 said receptacle engaging the first mentioned hook member whereby whenever said lid is raised said valve will be operated for causing the flushing of the receptacle.

2. In a drinking fountain, a receptacle, means for dispensing liquid from the receptacle, a flushing device arranged in the lowermost point of the receptacle, said flushing device comprising a tubular member, a plug therefor having a substantially conical shaped aperture therein,a substantially conical shaped valve member fitting in said aperture for normally filling the same, an operating rod extending upwardly from said valve member, a substantially U-shaped member pivotally mounted in the bottom of said receptacle having one end loosely engaging said operating rod, a reciprocating bar loosely connected to one end of said substantially U-shaped member for rocking the same back and forth, said reciprocating bar being formed with a hook at its upper end, and means connected to the lid of said receptacle engaging said hook whereby when the lid of the receptacle is raised said rod will be moved upwardly longitudinally and said valve will be raised from its seat.

3. In a drinking fountain, a receptacle and dispensing means connected therewith, said dispensing means comprising a valve member having a rotatable portion, a discharge tube connected with said valve member for guiding fluid from said receptacle when the valve member is in an open position, a manually operated lever for rotating said tube and said movable valve member simultaneously for opening said valve, and a spring surrounding said tube connected at one'end therewith and at the other end to the housing of said valve for reversing the movement of said tube and valve member when said lever is released whereby the valve member is closed and the tube is permitted to drain.

4. In a drinking fountain, a receptacle and dispensing means connected therewith, said dispensing means comprising a valve member, a pipe connected with said valve member, a cup connected with said pipe formed with an opening therein, said openarranged to be uppermost when ing being said valve member is open and lowermost When said valve member is closed, a manually operated lever for rotating said plpe,

' valve member and cup simultaneously for opening said valve member and turning the open side of the cup uppermost, and a springconnected with said pipe for reverslng the movement of said cup, pipe and valve -member 'When said lever 1s released 

